But..I did just buy the Tome of Horrors 2, and while it isnt spectacular, it does have a few monsters I'm probably going to throw at my party. Especially some of the undead, which my party is currently taking on.
I also got out my Avatar's Handbook, which is another sorceror-type cleric, but there are differences which I like. They have a base attack like a wizard, light armor proficiency, and a theme of summoning celestials. I was looking over the class again and really did like it and thought about offering it to my players.
I realize there already is the mystic. But I do find it kind of lacking a little bit. One domain just doesnt really give him much flavor. I'm pretty sure I saw where Cam stated that he had a PC use the Favored Soul class with a slight difference of druid spells. The Favored Soul looks good, but they revere a god also. I think the Avatar would be a nice variation of a mystic.
Just was wondering if anyone used much stuff from other companies because if you sift through enough of it..there are sometimes a few very neat ideas heh.
I guess I might as well add stuff made for other campaigns too. I look over a lot of stuff from Forgotten Realms, especially prestige classes, magical items, and feats.
Just was wondering what other people add to their games that isnt core and Dragonlance stuff.
Originally posted by True_Blue
I'm talking about anything not made by Wizards of the Coast or Sovereign Press.
I guess I might as well add stuff made for other campaigns too. I look over a lot of stuff from Forgotten Realms, especially prestige classes, magical items, and feats.
Just was wondering what other people add to their games that isnt core and Dragonlance stuff.
In my current campaign I've let PCs use a few things from Dragon & Dungeon magazines (which may or may not fit into your definition of "Core"). Besides that, the only other third-party d20 resource I've allowed is Fantasy Flight Games' Sorcery & Steam (for any gnome PCs). Otherwise everything is either WotC or Sov Press material.
I don't have any objections to using non-WOTC/SP d20 material, as I do own quite a large library of d20 books. My wife's playing a swashbuckler/akashic/half-janni, for example; the swashbuckler's a Complete Warrior class, the akashic is from Monte Cook's Arcana Unearthed, and the half-janni is something I created myself with some inspiration from Savage Species and Arcana Unearthed's racial classes.
It's usually on a case-by-case basis that I incorporate these things. I've never had a problem borrowing from other sources or mining non-Dragonlance products for ideas, and I encourage others to do the same in their home games. For the purposes of "official" writing and the preservation of continuity, however, I'm very much a stickler for WOTC's take on things. I have to keep that philosophy separate from the one I use as a DM.
Cheers,
Cam
Originally posted by Amaron Blackthorn
In fact, they were the ones who began the whole system way back in 1st edition.
Actually, no. That would be the bard from the 1st edition Player's Handbook, followed by the thief acrobat "split-class" in Unearthed Arcana. The knights and wizards in Dragonlance Adventures took their cue from those early classes.
Cheers,
Cam
I'm fairly open to options as long as they make sense in-world. For example, I could see using Monte Cook's alternate bard as I've found a way to incorporate it.
The Complete Book of Eldritch Might would be a good resource for arcane spellcasters in Krynn, having a number of new spells and options in it. I could definitely see using some of the classes from Arcana Unearthed for Dragonlance as well. A plainsman or kagonesti totem warrior, for example, would be a neat fit. I think some of the champion subclasses would be a good fit, as would the magister (WoHS anyone?).
Tome of Horrors is a good monster book to use for any game.
There's tons of books out there that could be helpful to one's Dragonlance game. Just look for the options that best fit you and your group.
I've actually incorporated one feat so far from the Eberron. One of my players wanted her druid to eventually be able to call a Unicorn for her animal companion and they have a few feats to enhance druids. Working out pretty well so far.
Now, on other products, I havent bought a bunch of non-Wizards stuff, I usually have to comb through them all to try to find good stuff. I bought Pale Designs: A Poisoner's Handbook because the DMG is lacking when it comes to stuff like that and I've been fairly happy with it. As I said before I just bought Tome of Horrors 2 to give my players a few more things to worry about. The Avatar's Handbook I'm still looking over and will need to convert over to 3.5, but I really like the concept in it. I use Traps and Treachery from the Legends & Lairs series. This one was very helpful.
Oh, and now, I have one of my players who just made up a Hexblade. Shes not happy with multiclassing a fighter with wizard levels.
Originally posted by True_Blue
I bought Pale Designs: A Poisoner's Handbook because the DMG is lacking when it comes to stuff like that and I've been fairly happy with it.
Glad to hear it. I was a contributor to that book myself, and was amazed at all the various poisons and such that the designers came up with.
I've been really happy with it..with only a few small minute problems. I usually go over any third party book over and over again anyways to make sure if I let something in it fits or is balanced. There was one prestige class I flatout didnt allow, which was the Bondsman..and because I banned it I always have a player who will ask if they can play it heh. The thing is unbelievable in powers. I really like the Sniper and some others..and some of the spells for Assassins. They need more spells for Assassins in my opinion.
But as I said before, posion is really lacking in the core books. This is one reason why I like 3rd party stuff, if osmething is lacking you can bet there will be a book somewhere that will attempt to fill that void. Its just your job to go through them and make sure they match the feel and balance of your game.
The Draconomicon
The Miniatures Handbook
The Quintessential Rogue
The Book of Vile Darkness
The Complete Warrior
The Age of Mortals sourcebook
The 3E splatbooks
There MAY be a few more although I cannot recall them at the time.
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The Sudden Metamagic feats really bother me because I feel no one will take the regular metamagic feats. They just seem a little bit too much with just applying on the fly. Some PrC's allow this, but at least they have to work a little bit for it by getting in the prestige class. But I'd be interested to see if anyone let them in and thought they were great.
The one spell that I thought was just way too good was a second level spell..and if you cast it, all your allies got an extra attack right then on your turn. i dunno, maybe people disagree but I thought that was a little too much. There was a lesser version of the spell as a 1st level spell that let you choose one persona nd they got an extra attack. I could see letting that one happen..your using a spell and giving up your turn to let someone else have one attack. maybe if the 2nd level version was bumped up a few levels I could see it,. just never felt like tweaking with it.
Originally posted by True_Blue
You know I like the Miniatures Handbook and I liked a lot of stuff that was in it. But some stuff I just found overpowering.
The Sudden Metamagic feats really bother me because I feel no one will take the regular metamagic feats. They just seem a little bit too much with just applying on the fly. Some PrC's allow this, but at least they have to work a little bit for it by getting in the prestige class. But I'd be interested to see if anyone let them in and thought they were great.
The one spell that I thought was just way too good was a second level spell..and if you cast it, all your allies got an extra attack right then on your turn. i dunno, maybe people disagree but I thought that was a little too much. There was a lesser version of the spell as a 1st level spell that let you choose one persona nd they got an extra attack. I could see letting that one happen..your using a spell and giving up your turn to let someone else have one attack. maybe if the 2nd level version was bumped up a few levels I could see it,. just never felt like tweaking with it.
Really ? Well my group uses it(The Miniatures Handbook) and has NO problem with it in the least.
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Originally posted by Amaron Blackthorn
Does using outside sources cause trouble for the game?
That depends on WHICH outside sources you use. I have had no problem incorporating elements from the # of books I have listed above. My advice is to be as familiar as possible with the setting that you are using and READ in depth each accessory you are planning on using within the setting.
For instance, In the MHB(Miniatures Handbook) there is a War Mage class, which I have disallowed for use in my campaign since there is already a War Mage PrC in the Age of Mortals sourcebook.
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Originally posted by Amaron Blackthorn
Do the players enjoy these options
Yup. As a matter of fact they usually shoot optional ideas at me and I do my research on them to see if they can fit in with my DMing style and the DL setting.
For example, The first time I saw the MHB I KNEW that I could use this in ONE of my v.3.5 campaigns. After reading that Cam Banks was utilizing this jewel in his campaign, by allowing one of his players to use the Favored Soul class, I figured I could easily slide it into mine as well. Btw, I just want to thank Cam Banks for providing me with the idea(Of using the MHB.).
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Originally posted by LordofIllusions
For example, The first time I saw the MHB I KNEW that I could use this in ONE of my v.3.5 campaigns. After reading that Cam Banks was utilizing this jewel in his campaign, by allowing one of his players to use the Favored Soul class, I figured I could easily slide it into mine as well. Btw, I just want to thank Cam Banks for providing me with the idea(Of using the MHB.).
It's one of my favorite books, even if I ignore half of it. I'll use the mass combat system from Eden Studios' Fields of Blood next time I run a large skirmish or battle.
Cheers,
Cam
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Originally posted by Amaron Blackthorn
What is the MHB?
Miniatures Handbook.
~~~
Originally posted by Cam Banks
I don't have any objections to using non-WOTC/SP d20 material, as I do own quite a large library of d20 books. My wife's playing a swashbuckler/akashic/half-janni, for example; the swashbuckler's a Complete Warrior class, the akashic is from Monte Cook's Arcana Unearthed, and the half-janni is something I created myself with some inspiration from Savage Species and Arcana Unearthed's racial classes.
What racial modifiers come into play for your Half-Janni race ? I have seen Monte Cook's Arcana Unearthed in the book stores but never really looked into it. Is it a good buy ?
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Originally posted by LordofIllusions
What racial modifiers come into play for your Half-Janni race ? I have seen Monte Cook's Arcana Unearthed in the book stores but never really looked into it. Is it a good buy ?
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Eh. I know others enjoy that book, but it just seems ... weird to me. The five players in my group have all looked over the book and have reached a similar conclusion to my own. Mechanics-wise it seems sound, thematically it just doesn't strike a chord with me.
Originally posted by iltharanos
Eh. I know others enjoy that book, but it just seems ... weird to me. The five players in my group have all looked over the book and have reached a similar conclusion to my own. Mechanics-wise it seems sound, thematically it just doesn't strike a chord with me.
What is it just another optional rule fest ?
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Originally posted by LordofIllusions
What is it just another optional rule fest ?
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Yep. Alternate races. Alternate classes. Alternate magic. Alternate campaign setting.
I'm not big on the races, but there are some interesting choices in character classes, spell systems, and more. Useful at least for somebody like me who writes D20 stuff as a freelancer.
Cheers,
Cam
I was looking at the book for a little bit tonight, and I was thinking that a champion of light would make for an excellent Knight of Solamnia. It's got good will saves, and the skills are just right. The class feels more knightly than multiclassing between fighter and cleric.
Anyone else think of using the champion with the KoS?
Than I realized...you couldnt really use stuff like the Beastiary then..because some of those monsters werent in any other books either. Some are newly designed. And then I looked over other books..and saw that there was plenty of stuff you can incorporate. Having a different kind of undead that your group faces doesnt take away from the feel of Dragonlance where knighthoods are viaing for land, dragon overlords are cowering from gods, and wizards are establishing their dominance once again.
I've almost always been a stickler for rules and always want things to be perfect, but after reading over so much material..I start to like things that end up not being "official" and sometimes I dont see anything wrong with incorporating them into Dragonlance. I like psionics but I dont use em.. but I'd let someone play an Avatar from the Avatar's Handbook..or pick some spells, feats, or poisons from Pale Designs: A Poisoner's Handbook.
I am starting to second guess my ruling though seeing this.
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Originally posted by Amaron Blackthorn
What is the point of having a healer when you have clerics of mishakel?
That was the main reason that I was not utilizing the healer class from the MHB. I felt that it was overkill. You have the Mystic and the clerics of Mishakal so why would you need the healer as well ?
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Cheers,
Cam